Malaysia’s Kelly Tan gave her career a much-needed shot in the arm when she won her maiden Symetra Tour title at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic yesterday.
Heading into the final round with a one-shot lead, Tan fell back midway through the day and had to eagle the final hole to force a playoff with American Demi Runas. Both players finished tied on 13-under-par at the Country Club of Winter Haven after the regulation 54 holes, setting a new tournament record.
Tan then nailed a birdie putt on the first extra hole to claim the US$18,750 winner’s cheque, which moved her up to third place on the Symetra Tour’s money list, aka the Volvik Race for the Card standings. The top 10 finishers at the end of this season earn LPGA cards for 2020.
The win came at an opportune time as Tan has been struggling on tour for the last two seasons. The 25-year-old from Batu Pahat, Johor, lost her LPGA card at the end of 2017 and made only three cuts on the Symetra Tour last year.
“I had a dream and today it happened. For all of you who NEVER stopped believing in me even when my belief was fading … THANK YOU!! You will never know the impact you have and continue to have on my life and career,” Tan posted on social media.
Following a stellar amateur career, Tan turned professional in 2013 and earned her LPGA Tour card via qualifying school that very year. She competed successfully on the world’s premier ladies circuit for the best of four seasons, with the highlight being a T4 finish at the 2014 Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning & O-I. Tan also represented Malaysia in the 2016 Rio Olympics, finishing 51st.
